the pursuit of happiness. how elusive it sometimes seems.

landon saunders offers this reason why. it struck me as powerful and profound.


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Having a life that loves to happen means you don't have to go around looking for happiness.

Trying to capture happiness is like the little boy's trying to capture butterflies with his hands. He can leap, sneak, grab, dive, pounce-and only manages to frighten them away. And the few times he does catch one, he has grabbed so hard that he has destroyed the butterfly.

But one day he gives up trying to capture butterflies. He sits and occupies himself with something else entirely. Suddenly, he looks up, and the beautiful butterflies are all around him-one even lands on his shoulder.

Happiness is not a goal; it is a gift. Happiness is the by-product of a life goal. When you're busy pursuing your goal, the bright elusive butterfly of happiness that so many seek in vain will be yours.

Having a life that loves to happen, then, means pursuing a worthwhile goal instead of pursuing happiness. The butterfly of happiness alights only on the hand that does not grasp, the hand that opens to receive a gift.

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